Die and method of forming articles from sheet metal.



w. NEES.

1 DIE AND METHOD OF FORMING ARTICLES FROM SHEET METAL.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I9, 19!].

1,286,723. Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

' Maj-SHEET 1.-

magm- IHIHILMHIIIII umrHm I my w J M INVENTOR J/JM/ ATTORNEY W. NEES.

ME AND METHOD OF FORMING ARTICLES mom SHEET METAL.

APPLICATI bl l ED DEC. 19, i911 1,286,723. Patented Dec. 3, 1918;

fl 4: Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

@JI Q,

ATTORNEY sha 4O T l portionsof the said plate to'thereby-form the I and adapted for the"manufacture of the the sheet, which flanges, when the throat LLIAM nuns, or DREXEL nILL, PENNSYLVANIA.

' 1T 0 all whom it may concern --.-My invention relates to dies for forming and pressing sheet metal plates into different pes. 1

Although the principleof my invention may be employed in the construction of apparatus for pressing and shaping various 'kinds and characters of devices from sheet metal, itis especially adapted foruse in the manufacture of throat sheets for boilers of the locomotive type. I i One of the objects of my invention 'isto provide 7 an improved construction which may-beemployed for forming flanges at different parts or positions upon a sheet metal plate after a single heating of the said plate.

It is also an object of my invention to provide dies s0 arranged and related to each other and so cooperating as to produce with economy and rapidity devices of sheet metal whichmay be described as relatively complexand'whichpas far as I am aware, have heretofore been manufactured by hand.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction comprising dies which co-act with each other to form flanges upon certain portions of a sheet metal plate. and.

certain of which after the formation of such flanges operate toh'old the said sheet while another one of which. a forming die. acts upon another portion of said plate and coacts withone ofthe other of said dies to formflanee's upon orrather to shape other said plate into the shape desired, depending upon the articlebeing manufactured.

' In the drawings I have shownmy inven tion as embodied in an apparatus designed throat sheets of boilers of the locomotive typegas abovestated; In the manufacture of such throat sheets the dies cooperate to produce first the flanges at the opposite edges of pieceis inus e, usually occupy a vertical position. Certain of the said dies, after the formation of the side flanges, operate to hold the sheet; while the belt or waist'flange,

Specification of Letters Patent.

j DIE AND METHOD or FORMING narrows FROM SHEET METAL.

Patented Dec. 3, 1918.

Application filed December 19, 1917. Serial No. 207,849.

which hugs the boiler shellyis. being completed'by the action of the forming die to which reference has been made previously.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved process of forming an article of-the character described from sheet metal, whereby the said article may be formed, economically and rapidly with one heating.

In order that my invention may be readily understood and its practical commercial advantages fullyappreciated, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one form'of apparatus embodying my invention and by the employment of which the improved process invented by me may bepractised.

It should be understood, however, that changes in the shape and details'of construction of the dies entering into the construction of the apparatus embodying my invention and that changes in the manner in which the parts of theapparatus cooperate with each other may. be made within the scope of the claims without departing from my invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of the dies in assembled relation constitutingmy 1nven-.

tion;

Fig. 2 is a top die;

. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional'view taken on the line 38 of Fig. 1; i V

Fig. 4 is a view in rear elevation of the dies in assembled relation;

, Fig. 5'is a'view in front elevation of the dies in assembled relation;

. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1; and I Fig. 7 is a view showing the product manufactured by the use, of the apparatus shown in the previous figures. J

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the lower die of an apparatus embodying my plan view of the bottom inner surfaces of which are curved, as shown at 3. so as to merge intothe bottom'surface 4 of the die. Thesaid die is provided with an opening 5 of the shape of the segment of a invention. said die having raised sides 2', the

cylinder and the front upper edge of which is curvilinear as shown at 6. The innersurfaces of the raised sides 2 of the die widen out toward the rearends of said die and, merge into opposite side portions 7 of the I opening 5. The rear ends of the sides are connected by the cross-member 10, the opposite ends of which are provided with raised portions 11: constituting continuations of the sides 7 of the opening 5.

The opposite sides 12 of the top die 14 are shaped so as'to enter between the raised sides 2 and the portions 11 of thelower die with such clearance as may be necessary depending upon the thickness of sheet metal stock being operated upon. The top die .14

is-provided with an opening 15 correspond- I ing in size and sha e and-being in alinement with theopening 5 of the bottom or lower die the lower side portions of the top die 14, at the opposite sides of the opening 15 disappearing or vanishing'aszindt cated in Figs. 1 and 3, more particularly the latter,at '15. The said top die is also provided with a lateral projecting and overhanging portion-16 which serves to strengthen the same, more particularly the portions thereof. at and adjacent. to the points of connection betweenthe' cross-meld The plate to be operated upon is .shown' in'dash and dot lines 20 in Fig. 1, the "said plate being indicated between the opposing faces of -the dies and before the. same ha been acted upon thereby.

These dash and dot lines 20 indicate the outline or edge ofthe plate.

An intermediate portion of the plate is cut out or removed, the outline or portion of the said plate: so removed being indicated by the dash and dot lines 21 The portion, as. indicated by the dash and dot lines 21 having been cut. from the plate and the said platehaving been heatedto the required temperature, it is placed in position upon the top side of the bottom die 1, the said plate resting upon the topsofthe raised SldGSQ and of. the raised portions 11 at the opposite ends-rot theiconnectingnienn ber10-.

Thereafter the bottom die: is moved up wardly by: any: suitable. power actuated means so as to cause the raisedsidesQa-nd the raised portions 1 1 otthesa id bottom die topass up on oppositesi'des of the lower' part of the top die, as bestnshown' in- Figs; Q&,5-and6i i Theb'ottom die- 1. in moving: intothe positionwith respect to the top die 1 1 and the forming die 30, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing,' causes the formation of the flanges 25 upon the opposite edges of the sheet metal plate the outlineof which is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In moving, to such position, it is the upper portions of the opposite sides 7 of the opening 50f the bottom die lwhich cooperate with the opposite side portions of the die 30 corresponding in position to the-portions7 which fornr the portions of the flanges 25,. which correspond inpositions to: the positionsaof the cooperatingparts: of theaiiiormingdiez 30 and the-bottomdie 1..

The cooperation of the" diesuprto; this point .of the operation of the apparatus; does not affect the semi-circirlar portion 2601? the said. plate/nor the, straight tongue. portion 27' thereof.. After the dieslhavev operated upon the sheet metal plate to form the flanges'25 and while thebottom EtIldz-tOPT dies Sllllli occupy the positionswshownnin Figs: 3, 4-, 5 and. 6; in WlIlCh.PDSltl'O11S"tl18y' clamp and hold firmly the; saidplate, the forming die 30' which isofthesameishape; of: the openings-'5: and. 15. through the; bottom: and top dies is caused to move downwardiyafrom a position snchas that shownin Fig. 3' to the position indicated inwEig. 6. SOi as'vto bend the portions 263 and 22% downwardly-t0 form flanges 26 and-27,: asshown inz-Figz. 35',

the flange 26 constitutingthee belt; or waist.

flange of the. device. The outer: end portions of the-fiange 26', asshowntinFig. Z, are in the. same planes. aswthe outer end? portions oftthe flanges 25.- In Fig; 3= the forming die 30 is shown inwithdrawn position to which it has been moved after having been o,perated to turn'the portions126rand' 21" downwardly into, the positions shown in Fig. 3..

After the partsv 26,- and. QThBNGythllS been turned into. the-position show-n; inFig. 3 to. form flanges,v as thus. described the. oppm site:- leg portions; of thes plat'eare cut. along a line at 38 so -asi-to remove then-portion including the; tie-plate part-34 of said plate, so that the final. product as madeby the particular construction of dies; 1 and 14 and formingdie 30 illustrated anddescribed'and as shown. in: Fig.7 ot 'the;drawingsis'pro-. duced.-

The fin-lining die 30, isr-connected' at/its upper side-with a portion-35x haying connection with means: not sho'wmtfor. causing it. to reciprocate and thereby causes operatiVemoMements thereot togbendi -dow-n the parts- 26; and. 2'1 to form flangesaasrshown in-Fig.3=. i- 1 The: purpose of. the.-tonguea 27' is; to pro?- vide' counteracting pressure against the plunger 30. in opposition to thepressure exerted against said plungerby the semicircular portion-26. Were it not. for the presence. of. the. tongue 27v the plunger would tend to cant or tilt by reason of the fact thatthe resistances encountered thereby in its movement downwardly would be only upon the oneside. T

It willbe observed that vI have provided a single unitary construction of apparatus for forming the side flanges 25 and the belt fiange '26, thelatter merging at its opposite ends into the upper ends of the side flanges 25.. The said belt flange and theupperends ;0f-.the sideyflanges' hug a greater or less portion of the outer cylindricaljsurface of a shell ,andare-riveted theretoin known manner. 1

It will also be observed that the formation of. the belt flange 26 immediately succeeds the formation of the side flanges 25 and that while the first isbeing formed the dies by means-ofwhich the side flanges were formed are heldin, .what may be. termed clamping relationt'o each other to hold the plate firmlysin position, while the forming diew30'aoperates to form the belt or waist flange 26,

. It will be observed also that the construeition of apparatus embodying my invention fisflsuch: that Imam enabled to arrange the cooperating partsthereof in such relation to upper ends into-the oppositeend portions toftth'ezbelt flange 26, the two flanges at their upper end portions --"occupying the same :plane. i 1

The'rsheetmetal blank formed as, above described maybe regarded as comprising twocparts oneof 'which.is employed to form the, final product and the other to facilitate theope ration of forming the said product and which iSwsI'BiIlOVGd, as described, after 'thegprocess ,ofishaping the said blank by the fl-actionofthe dies has been completed.

I claim g 1 ,1; ,In. combination, lower and upper .dies,

, said dies having openings therethrough, one

side of each of the said openlngs belng curvilinear and the sides opposing the curvilinear sides of said openlngs being substantially straight andoneof the said-dies being provided with raised or projecting side portions which diverge from each other toward their" rear ends and the other one of'said dies bein" adapted to enter the space between the said flange merging intoand being in sub .stantially the same plane as the adjacent end portions of the said side flanges.-

2. Apparatus of the character adapted to operate upon a sheet metal plate having an opening 'therethrough, the said apparatus comprising lower and upper dies,

first nameduflanges. 1 i 3 described the lower dies having raised; or projecting side portions which diverge from each other toward their rear ends and the said die having an opening therethrough', said opening being in theform'of the segment of a cylin-, der and the upper die being adapted to enter the space between the said raised or projecting side portions and said upper die also being provided with an opening therethrough of. the sameshape as and in alinement with the opening inv the lower die and a .formingdie, of the shape. of the segment of a cylinder adapted to move back and forth through the saidopenings, the said dies first operating to form side flanges upon the said plate extending in one direction'rerespect to the plane of said plate and one of said flanges being curvilinear and being situated intermediate the first named flanges and merging at; its opposite end portions into the adjacent. end portionsiof the said 3. In combination, lower and upper dies having openings therethrough, the lower portions of the said upperdie, at the opposite sides of said opening terminatingv at points in front of the rear endsof-the upper portiOnsFof the said opposite sides and c said vupper die having laterally projecting and overhanging portions, and a formlng die operating'in said openings.

7 4c. In combination, two dies adapted to co-act to form flanges at the opposite edges of a plate, "said dies having openings extending therethrough, the flange forming part ofone of said dies at the opposite sides of said openingbeing interrupted, and a forming die operating throughsaid openings the said forming dieco-acting with 'one of the first mentioned dies during the formation of the said flangesto assist in the formationthereof and the'said forming die subsequently moving through the said openings to press other portions of said plate into the 1 shape desired,

5. In combination, male and female die members adapted to co-act to form flanges 'moving through the opening in the said female die to sha e other portions of said plate, substantially as described.

6. In combination, lower and upper dies, the former being provided with side portions between which the upper die is adapted to be received and the said dies having openings extending therethrough, the op- 9o'site sidesofisaid" "dies at the; rearf said openings being connected?- by cross members, the lower portionsvof the upper die on opposite sides of the opening therethrough terminating in front of the crossmember of sa d die; the said" upper die being provided with an overhanging portion Wh-lCh' lS connected with and supports the cross member of said die and 5a forming: 'dle operating in. .and through said :openings,

substantially as described;

7 In combination; lower andupperdies I %adapted: to; co-act with" each other to form flanges at-the opposite edges of'a'plate', said dieseach having openings extending therethroughgone side of each of said openings being curvilineaigithe lower portion of the curved side of one of the said dies terminating at its opposite endsfdist ancesin advance of the termination 'of" the curved side of the opening-through the other 'die,

:a forming "die situated in "and operating through the said 0])G,111l1'gS,S&1d d e co-act Jing With one of -the' said dies in 'the forniation of the said flanges andgithereafter" moving t-hrouglixthesaid openings to form a other flange upon said 'platerintermediate the first named flanges.

8a In combination,,lower and :upp'er dies,

the lower die:beingzprm'idedwith ;.opposite jside po 1' tions between which the upper diewhrpted'to bereceived, thesai-l dies 00-- iiactingfto form flanges at the opposite edges of a plate andt-he said dies having openings extending;therethrough, said" openlng-s being semircylindrica-l in shape in cross section theropposite sides of thesaiddies beyond said openings being connected by cross members which respectivelyconstitute portionsofth'e'lower and upper-dies, the lower portions of'the upper die at the opposite sides-of the opening theretlironghterminating av-distance front-the cross member connect ng the said? opposite sides, and a forming dieradapted to operate through the said openings and -co-act' v with the curvilinear'side of the-opening throughthe lower Copies of this patent may be obtained for idie'j to form arfian'ge' uponz'said plateiliiitefmediate the flanges at the oplpositep'sedges thereof and Which extends in a direction 0prposite thatl-in which the said edgesfianges extend; r

9.111 .icombinationy male-and: fema'le n16 members adapted to co-actito;forin flanges at the opposite-edges of plate-:andthesaid dies having} openings: extending 'f"there throngln: said", openings havingfathetwshape transversely of the segments: of cylinder, the opposite sides ioflthe said dies beyond said openings being connected by cross members which respectively constitute portionsof the said dies, theinner portions of the male dieat the opposite sidesof the "opening therethrongh' terminating a distance' froni'the cross member connectingithe said opposite sides, the outer portions of said" opposite-sides. continuing and having connection with the said crossmemberyan'd a forming die adapted to operate'through" the said openings and co-aoting Withpon tions of the curvilinear side of the opening through i the male die to form portions of the flanges'at the oppositeiedges of said platea-nd also with: the remaining portion of said curvilinear side to form a flange 'upo'n said plate intermediate said edge flanges,; which intermediateflange" extends in direction opposite that in which the projecting'laterally to form overhanging portions, and a forming die operating inv said openings. v r i In testimony that 'I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my namethis 17th day of December, Al D..191?;- 3. 1

, WILLIAM five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of: Patents,- ,Washington,D;C. v P 

